Humidifier



S. W. CRAMER HUMIDIFIER Filed D. 15. 1924 INVENTOR WITNESES IQ Sn/ART IV @m4/vn? TTOR @e e, i925,

Patented if. S

PATENT FFICE.

STUART W. CRAMER, 0F CRAMERTON, NORTH CAROLIN.

HUMIDIFIER.

, A Application filed December 13, 1924. Serial No. 755,662.

To all ywlw/n t may concern.'

Be it known that STUART il". CRAMER, a citizen of' the United States, and a'resident ot Cramer-ton, county of' Grastomtatev of 5 North Carolina, have invented certain new 10 rat-us for creating and distributing a mist` of water and increasing the water vapor content in the atmosphere about the apparatus.

In the usual type of hun'iitliiiers, water to 15 be absorbed in the atmosphere is sprayed into a draught of air which is moving unidirectionally, either downwardly or horizontally. Accordingly, the tendency of the droplets or particles of sprayed water to 2Ulfall or settle from the draught4 is aidedby 'the movement of the draught. This not only lessons the time during which the water may evaporate from the falling drops but creates an objectionable spattering or splashing of the 'water on the floor or other surfaces about the apparatus.l

An object of my present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for humidit'ying in which the tendency of the water particles or droplets of the mist to fall or settle out of the. draught of air in which they are carried is resisted or opposed, and in which a widedistribution of the mist is obtained in a direct manner. 1

' Another object of the invention is to provide a humidifier in which the projection into the air of particles ot too large a size to be carried therein is avoided.

A further object of the invention is to provide a humidifier in which the capacityA may b e readily controlled or adjusted.

A still further object of the invention is to provide ahumidifier i'n which the mist is toi-med in a body of air moving at a lower velocity than that in which the mist is to be distributed to eliminate particles which cannot be carried in the distributing' draught.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the method and apparatus described and set forth in the following f specification and claims.

The various features ofthe invention are illustrated 1n the accompanying -drawmgs 1u which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view ot' a humidifier embodying a preferred form of the invention, and A Fig. 2 is a vert-ical sectional View of a'portion of a modified form of embodiment of the invention employing an alternative water supply arrangement.

In my present invention, an upward draught of air is created and is deflected and spread radially outwardly in a substantially flat stream. A secondary, slower, current of air is created and entrained` in the outwardly f moving draught of air and in this secondaryv currentof' air is generated a mist, which is then drawn with the secondary current of an' into the outwardly moving draught of air and thus distributed throughout the surn rounding atmosphere. To form this mist, a stream of water is drawn from a source of supply to the surface of a rapidly rotating plate and is thrown outwardly by centrifugal action to the edge of the plate and projected as a tine mist into the secondary current of air, passing above the edge of the plate. The smaller, lighter, `particles of water thrown from the edge of the plate are 'carried by the entrained currpnt of air into the main draught of air while the larger drops are projected onto a receiving surface i from which they may flow back to the source ot' supply of the water. The capacity of the apparatus may be controlled by controlling the volume or velocity of the secondary current of a'ir through a suitable damper arrangement. lVith this arrangement, only `those particles are carried into the distributing draught of air, which are light enough. to be carried therein and the tendency for the particles to settle out vof the draught is opposed by the upward and outward movement of the draught.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, an upward draught of air' is created by a fan 10 mounted on and driven by a vertical shaft' 12 dependingdownwardly from a motor 14. The current of air generated by the fan 10 passes upwardly about a cylindrical surface 16 and is then deflected and' spread outwardly and slightly upwardly by anfupwardly and outwardly flaring mverted conical surface 18, -extending from the upper edge of the cylindrical surface 16, from the outer edge of which the motor and fan are mounted by downwardly and inwardly converging arms As the draught of air passes from beneath the outer edge of the surface 12?, it entraine air from the upper side of the surface thus draws a secondary current ot air oi lower velocity, in which a inist of Water is jiormed and thence drawn into the outward- Wardly flaring draught of air supplied by the fan 10. ylhis secondaryY current oit air is drawn through an opening 22 in the upper part of a rustro-conical surface of plate 24 and passes downwardly along the under surface of this plate and under the lower edge thereof, which is slightly spaced above the upper surface oit the conical plate 18 to forni an annular passageway 2li through which thesecondary current of air is drawn in a thin annular sheet. y

A. tine spray or inist of Water to be carried into the draught of' air from the lan 1G is formed in the secondary air immediately be fore it is drawn through the passageway 2GA and entrained in the main air draught. o this end, a continuous stream of Water is drawn, from a supply cup or pan 28, formed in the lower part oif the cylindrical surface 16, upwardly by centrifugal action over both the outer and the inner surface ot' an inverted, ifrustro-conical member 30 depending'from a rotating, horizontal spraying disc 82 and extending beneath the surface ot the Water in the cupv28. rlho Water being drawn upwardly inside of the Jfrustro-conical member 30 flows through openings Bel in the disc 32, within the periphery of the member 2S and then flows outwardlyI over the surface of the plate. As the water reaches the outer edge of the disc 32 it is deflected upwardly and outwardly over an upwardly bent edge portion 36 and thrown against a corrugated surface 38 formed on the under side of the rustro-conicalplate 24. As the Water is carried to and impacts with the inner surface of the bent edge portion 36 and thrown from the edge of the flange disc 32 it is broken into a fine spray or mist, the lighter, smaller, particles of `which remain suspended and are carried in the secondary air current into the main air' draft, While the larger, heavier particles, which Would settle out of the air more quickly, are caught on the corrugated surface 38 and thus prevented from being carried into the air draught and later deposited on neigh-v boring surfaces. As the lighter suspended droplets of Water are carried into the main draught of air, which has a greater velocity than the secondary current in which they were formed, they are carried upwardly and outwardly therein, thedirection of movement of the draught being such as to buoy up the droplets untilthey are completely evaporated, and to provide a Wide distribution which facilitates rapid evaporation from the particles. The drops caught on the corrugated surface v3b fall downwardly upon the upper surface ot the plate i8 and thence lion! baclt into the pan 28.,

'llhe plate 32 may/be supported and rotated in any suitable manner but is prefer ably supported by extending the 12 upwardly from the motor 15e through a sur rounding collar l0 projecting upwardly from the bot-teni o the pan 28 and mounting on the upper end et the sli-att a collar having a horizontal flange il on which the disc 32 is mounted and secured by means ot a Washer lli y The capacity of the humiditier may be con- 'trolled or adjusted by controlling the velocity oit the entrained or secondary current drawn through the opening 22, Vllor this purpose, a cap t8 is provided above the opening 22 and is supported at an adjust-- able distance thereabove by means oit threaded supporting post 50 threaded in a spider spanning the opening 22. ihe cap is, moreover, guided by means otl a series out vertical guide posts By raising' or lor-.1ern ing the cap i8 the size oit 'the entrance opening for the secondary air currentmay be adjustcd. The. conical plate 24 is also so Supported trom the plate 18 asto be adjiusted vertically to vary the annular opening" 2o and the distance of the corrugated surface 3S from. the outer edge the disc 32, theres" by varying the area in which the mist is termed and the velocity oit the air passing; therethrough. F or this purpose, the conical plate 24 is supported at its outer Vedge from the outer edge portion of the plate 18 by means of supporting springs 54C and held in position by means of Wing nuts 56 threaded on bolts 58 projecting upwardly *from the outer edge portion of the plate 18. By screwing down the nuts 56 the springs 54 are compressed and the plate 2st brought closer to the plate 18. 'lhe entire appa actus may `be suspended from a ceiling 60 by means of depending hangers 62 or i'rom a supporting post 6st by means ,of brackets 66.,

`Water may be supplied to the cup 28 in any suitable manner, ln the preferred form of the invention, as shown in Fig. 1, a supply of Water is continuously admitted through a pipe 68 provided with a hand operated by-pass valve and the level of 'water in the cup is maintained constant by permitting the excess of Water to overflow through an overflow pipe 70. lhe water supplied by the-pipe 68 1s received directly in an outer annular cha-mber72 formed in the cup 28 'by means of a circular partition or Wall 74., A loat valve structure is provided in the compartment 72, which consists of the float F from which projects a rod 91 connected by a suitable joint 92 to a rod 93, 'which passes throu h a flexible joint 94 in the Wall 16 which 1s joined to the valve 98 by rods 95 and 96 connected together by a universal joint 9i. The float will rise and Stb fall with the water in the compartment 72, thus closing and opening the valve 98 at a predetermined water level. From the outer compartment 7:2 the water is admitted through an opening 76 to an inner compartment 78 within the wall 74 into which the lower end ot' the cone 30 dips. A by-pass valve 86 is also provided between the lower portion of the cup 28 and the overflow pipe for the purpose of draining the .cup at intervals tor cleaning.

Instead of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, however`V an alternative arrangement shown in Fig. 2 may be used. In this aryrangement of the appara-tus, the pipe 6.8

opens directly into the inner compartmentl 78 and all of this water is carried upward and over the lsurface of the plate 32 and the portion that is thrown against the corrugated surface 38 which is not evaporated falls onto the surface 18 and flows back 4to` the outer compartment 72 and thence through the overflow pipe 70 to a drain.

lVith this arrangement a constant andsys-f tematie circulation of water through the apparatus is provided. The inlet pipe 68 is provided with a hand operated by-pass valve 90, and a by-pass valve 86 is pro\-'ided-be.

tween. the c up 28 andthe overflow pipe 70 for draining tion shown in Fig. 1.

lith the above described method and apparatus. therefore, the water is divided into a very tine mist, from which the larger particles which can not be readily carried for a sufficient distance are removed and returned to the source of supply. The remaining tine mist is then carried directly outwardly and spread throughout-a wide area into an unsaturated ornormally conditioned atmosphere into which water vapor may readily and rapidly evaporate from the drops. The great merit therefore of the invention is to distribute finely subdivided' moisture, buoyed up ona draft of dry air, which supports it, distributes it, and evaporates it, the moisture being in an extremely subdivided statey before it mixes with the said draft of air.l The humidifying@action is thereby rendered very eiiicient and effective and any splashing and sputtering of the wateris avoided.

As changes of construction could be made within the scope of my invention, it-is intended that all the matter contained in the abovr` description -or shown in the accompanying drawings, shallbe interpreted asillustrative and not in a* limitingense Having described myfmvention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters. Patent is:

1. A. method of humidifying yan atmos-v phere, which com rises forming a 'mist' of water and a slow y movmgcurrent ot air, and then conveying and throwing air purposes, as in the construc' and mist to and into another separately promist to and into another sepa ately produced and more rapidly moving, and upwardly spreading draught ofnorn'ially conditioned air.

3. A method of humidit'ying an atmosphere, which comprises forming amist of water and a slowly moving currentof air` and then centrifugally conveying and throwing saidair and mistto and 'into another more rapidly moving and upwardly spreading draught of normally conditioned ail'.

4. A method of humidifying an atmosphere which comprises forming adraught of rapidly moving normally conditioned air, forming av mist of water and another slowly moving current of air, removing the larger yparticles of moisture from' said mist; conveyinggand throwing saidair and mist uninl'uenced by but to and into the draught of rapidly moving air, then spreading the merged draught of air and contained mist throughout'said atmosphere.

5. A method ot'humidifying an atmosphere,'Whic-h comprises, forming a mist-'ot' water and a slowing moving current of air, removing thelarger particles'from said mist, conveying and throwing said air and inist into another andmore 'apidly moving draught of air, and spreading ,the two draughts of air and contained mist with in-` creasing momentum. radially and inclined upwardly vfrom the4 horizontal throughout said atmosphere.

6. `A method of humidif'ying an atmosphere which comprises ccntrifugally formlng a mist of water and a slowing moving current of air,.producing another separate and independent rapidly moving draught of air, centrifugally lconveying and t-hrowing said mist uninfluenced by the rapidly moving draught 'of air to and into said rapidly moving draught of air, spreading the combined draughts of air and contained` mist throughoutA said atmosphere.

7.' A method of huniidifying an atmosphere, which comprises, centrifugally throwing water into a. slowing moving current ol" air, removing the larger particles of water from said cur-rent of air, and centritugally forcing said current of air and the water therein to and into a separately' produced and more rapidly and upwardly moving spreading current of air.

phere, which comprises, centri'fugally throwlng water into a slowly movlng current of air, controlling the velocity of said current of air, removing the larger` particles of water wardly from said current of air and centrifugally forcing said current of air and the mist therein to and into a separately produced and more rapidly and upwardly moving,

5 spreading draught of normally conditioned above mentioned-to and into the rst above mentioned draught'of air. l

` 10. A method of humidifying an `atmosphere, which comprises, creating a draught of air of substantial force and volume,

spreading said draught of air outwardly in a thin, substantially horizontal, draught forming a mist and a more slowly moving current of air of lesser force and volume, removing the larger particles from said eige- ?5 rent of air, and centrifugally forcing the sulting mist into the draught of air with mcreasmg momentum.

11. Apparatus ofthe type described which comprisesv means for forming and directing a current of air of relatively great force and volume radially outward, means for forming amist and another more slowly movmg current of air, and means for entraining andv independently forcing said mistl and air uninfluenced by the first named means into the current of air first above mentioned.

12. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, means for generating and directing a current of air upwardly and directing 40 it radially outward in a thin sheet, means for forming a mist andanother current of air adjacent said outwardly moving current of air and for entraining and centrifugally throwing said mist into said outwardly moving current.

13. Apparatus of the type described which comprises a flaring surface, means for forming a draught of air having relatively great force and volume adjacent said surface and directed towards the base thereof, and means -separate from and uninfluenced by the first named means for forminga mist andfor conveying said mist and delivering it to-and into the draught of air first above mentioned.

14. Apparatusof the type described which comprises, a flaring surface, means for directing a draught of air of substantial force andvolume along the surface and towards (.50 the base of said flaring surface, means independent of the first named means and uninfluenced thereby for-forming a mist and` osition to be thrown v for .carrying it to a and drawn into the sa1d draught of air leaving the base of said flaring surface, and

means for removing the larger drops from said mist prior thereto. v

15. Apparatus of the type described -Wlnch comprises, an inverted flaring surface, means for directing a draught of air upward-1y against said flaring surface, means for forming a mist at the upper edge of said flaring surfacein position to be thrown and drawn into the draught of' air passing the upper edge of saidflaring surface.

16. Apparatus of the type described which comprises means for producing a draught of air of substantial force and volume, means for forming said draught of air into a thin sheet and for directing the same radially outward, a rotatably mounted disc provided with a. beveled periphery, an annular surface spaced from and adjacent to the periphery of said disc, and means for supp v ing water to a surface of said disc, and for causing its impact against the surface of the beveled portion thereof.

17. Apparatus ofthe type described which comprises means for producing a draught of air of substantial force and volume, means for forming said draught of air into a thin sheet and for directing the same radially outward, a rotatably mounted disc provided with a beveled periphery, an annular surface spaced from and adjacent to the periphery of said disc, meansfor supplying water to the upper surface of said disc and beveled portion thereof. Y y

1 8. Apparatus of the type described which comprises means for producing a draught of air of substantial force` and volume, means for forming said draught of air into a thin sheet and for directing the same radially outward, a rotatably mounted disc provided with a beveled periphery and an annular corrugated surface above and spaced from the periphery of said disc, means for supplying water to the inner side/of the base of the beveled portion of the disc.

19. Apparatusy ofA the type described which comprises, an `inverted conical surface, means for directing la draught of air upwardly against the said conical surface, means for forming a mist at the upperfedge of said vconical surface in position to be entrained by air passing the upper edge of said conical surface, and means for removing the larger drops from said mist.

20. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, an inverted conical surface, means for directing a draught of air upwardly against said conical surface, a rotatably mounted horizontal discabove said conical surface, and means for supplying water to the surface of said disc to be projected ytherefrom and entrained in said draught of air.

21. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, an inverted :conical sur'- face, means for directing a draught of air face and havin Y having upwardly against said conical surface, a rotatably mounted horizontal discpabove said conical 'surface and having an upwardly turned outer edge portion, an annular corru- 'gated surface above and spaced from the edge of the said disc, and meansfor supplying Water to the surface of said disc,

22. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, an inverted conical surface, a fan for directing a draught of air upwardly against said conical surface, a r0 tatably mounted disc above said conical suranj-upturned edge ortion a frustro-conica surface above said dlsc and spaced from the edge of said disc, and means for supplying water 4to said disc.l

23. Apparatus of the type ldescribed which comprises, an inverted-conical sur face, a fan for directing a draught of air upwardly against said conical.surface,a rotatably mounted disc above said conical sur- .face and having an upturned edge portion,

a frustro-conical surface above said disc-and havin an annular corrugated surdace space from the edge of said disc, means for supplying Water -to the surface of said disc, and a cap adjustably mounted above thenpper open end of said upper frustro-conical surface.

an annular corrugated, surfaceV 24. 'Apparatus of the type described which comprises, an inverted conical surface, a fan for directing a draught of air up- Wardly'against said `conical surface, a rotatably mounted discabove said conical surface' and having an upturned edge portion,

a Water supply pan at the .lower end of said,

tatably mounted disc above said conical sur? face, and ,hz'iving an upturned outer edge portion, a Water supply pan at the lower portionof said conical surface, an invertedfrustro-conical surface secured to said disc and d1pp1ng into sald cup, a frustro-conical surface spaced above said inverted conical surface and having a corrugated surface spaced from the edge of said disc, and a cap.

vertically adjustable over the upper open end of said frustro-conical surface.

STUART CRAMER. 

